by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

That subject surfaced when President Nixon told a journalist in 1972 that pandas from China - one male, one female - would be housed at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

"The problem, however, with pandas is that they don't know how to mate," Nixon told Crosby Noyes, the foreign editor of The Washington Star newspaper. "The only way they learn how is to watch other pandas mate. You see?"

(Another remarkable thing about this conversation: A president leaking his own news item.)

Historians Douglas Brinkley and Luke A. Nichter, who compiled conversations for a new book called The Nixon Tapes: 1971-1972, transcribed the panda talk of March 13, 1972, in a post on The Washington Post website:

Nixon: Now, as a matter of fact, let me tell you an interesting thing about - that you must know, you can only use on your own if you want, but not on comment. I was just talking to Bob Haldeman who talked to his Chinese hosts, and this question of mating is very interesting. These are - This is a male and a female.

Noyes: Uh-huh.

Nixon: The problem with, uh - The problem, however, with pandas is that they don't know how to mate. The only way they learn how is to watch other pandas mate. You see?

Noyes: (laughs)

Nixon: And, so they're keeping them there a little while - these are younger ones -

Noyes: I see.

Nixon: - to sort of learn, you know, how it's done.

Noyes: Sure, learn the ropes.

Nixon: Now, if they don't learn it they'll get over here and nothing will happen, so I just thought you should just have your best reporter out there to see whether these pandas -

Noyes: Well, we certainly will -

Nixon: - have learned. So, now that I've given you the story of pandas let me let you get back to your more serious questions.